Check out this hilarious clip from SNL’s weekend update and let me know what you think. Just when you think you know what they will do, SNL goes a whole other direction.

A fragment of a book written in Coptic has now been discovered which suggests that early Christians of about the fourth century believed that Jesus was married. This may not be earth-shattering news, but it does raise some interesting questions. For myself, I have always believed that Jesus was most likely married, despite the paucity of evidence on the subject. It just seems more likely to me that he would have set an example of being the perfect husband (and perhaps father?), along with the other things he did perfectly.

What about you? Do you have any beliefs or assumptions about Christ’s mortal marriage or lack thereof? Does the importance of marriage in our doctrine play any part in your assumptions? Does this new discovery impact your belief one way or another? Should this have any impact on those who practice or believe in celibacy?

Here’s another great version of one of my favorite hymns:

Brightly Beams Our Fathers Mercy A Cappella from Jamez on Vimeo.

The Lower Lights // I Saw The Light from The Lower Lights on Vimeo.

The Lower Lights is a group of amazing musicians and performers who have taken it upon themselves to rework some of our hymns in a style that is newer and somewhat less, well, churchy and starchy than we may be used to. The style of their albums is folky and bluegrassy, yet still spiritual and perhaps even more meaningful than the original arrangement, at least to some. We’ve talked about them before, when their first album came out. I’m happy to let you know that their second volume of hymns came out last month, and even happier to tell you that it’s even better than volume 1 (which is saying something). (more…)

The intellect of man is forced to choose
Perfection of the life or of the work,
And if it take the second must refuse
A heavenly mansion, raging in the dark.

-William Butler Yeats

Discuss.

We have been studying the book of Jacob in the Book of Mormon in Gospel Doctrine class recently, as are you, most likely. As I have mentioned before, Jacob is one of my favorite prophets and writers, so I have been enjoying this part of our class. One of the comments that the teacher made about this book that stuck with me is that Jacob mentions this in the beginning of his book:

Nephi gave me, Jacob, a commandment concerning the small plates, upon which these things are engraven. And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious…

Of course, Jacob follows this commandment, but the things he writes (allowing for possible editing by Mormon) apparently took up only seven chapters. Although one of these chapters is the longest chapter in the Book of Mormon, this is a relatively small contribution, possibly due to Nephi’s instruction to limit himself to “a few of the things which I considered to be most precious.” (more…)

I checked out the conference at UVU today (Joanna Brooks! Ardis Parshall! Kristine Haglund doing interpretive dance!) and met up with Kristine and Ardis and we decided that we couldn’t live without a Bloggersnacker in SLC this weekend. The time is following the last session of conference and the location is the Peery Hotel in downtown SLC. Other details have yet to be determined, but there are rumors that the esteemed Ronan Head (or some other large british head) will be in town and we will make every effort, including actual kidnapping, to ensure his attendance. Also, Kristine has graciously agreed to perform her now-famous rendition of ABBA’s classic “Dancing Queen.” Good times will be had. Autographs will be available. Email me if you want the deets: MarkCQuinn at Q dot com.

This article is perhaps the most sensible thing anyone has said about same-sex marriage that I have ever read. Here’s the money quote:

[T]rue conservatives should welcome gay marriage. For its increasing acceptance across civilised countries represents not the making gay of marriage but the making conservative of gays. The desire of an increasing number of gay men and women to have their stable and lifelong relationships recognised equally by family, friends and society as a whole demonstrates the respect of individuals within, and towards, an important institution.

That’s exactly how I feel. It seems to me that, instead of arguing against SSM because it will somehow destroy the institution of marriage (which is perhaps the most unfounded argument against SSM), conservatives should be welcoming these people into the fold as potential saviors of the institution. After all, shouldn’t we be glad that there are people who desperately want to be in life-long committed relationships? There are certainly enough heterosexuals who seem not to want that, and show it by their behavior. If homosexuals want to marry, that says good things about them which ought to be rewarded, not dismissed.

I’ve been largely ignoring the fuss over the racial comments made by Professor Bott at BYU in a recent Washington Post piece, in part because there have been a lot of good things said by lots of others (whom I applaud and with whom I’d rather not compete) and also because I generally consider the statements made by Bott to be outdated, vestigial, and of only archeological significance. They demonstrate that everyone is not on the same page yet, but they surely don’t represent the mainstream of thought on such issues among the majority of the members of the Church. (more…)

At the end of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol we find this description of the changed Ebenezer Scrooge, after his encounter with the spirits:

and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!

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The title of this post comes from a recently released single, called “Heaven” by the band O.A.R. (which apparently stands for “Of A Revolution”).

This is not a band I follow much, so I’m not very familiar with their other work, but I like a lot of what I have heard of their music. This particular track, the first single of the bands album King which was released this year, caught my attention partly because it’s a catchy tune and has been getting some radio play, but mostly because of the lyrics.

Of course, it’s just a dumb pop song in some ways, but it resonates with some people and is causing some small stir in the Christian community, partly because it captures, in a very articulate and pithy way, a view that is very widespread in our culture and is the reason, I believe, why many people want nothing to do with any organized religion, including ours. That view is that religion pitches heaven (the ultimate goal of existence) as a kind of exclusive country club, and the kind of person you are is really not welcome there. (more…)

Being that we are moving tomorrow from Brooklyn, our home of almost 9 years, to New Jersey (Montclair), I figured I’d note a few things I never did while living here.

1) Join the Park Slope Co-op: It’s an institution here, one in which you can earn your urban/progressive/sustainability/organic/communitarian-street cred and show how truly “Brooklyn” you are. Why not me? Meh, who cares.

2) Eat at Peter Luger: This one is disappointing. New Jersey isn’t that far away so maybe Sara and I will make a trip back to hit up the legendary steak house with some friends.

3) Ride the Cyclone in Coney Island: I’m not going to feel too bad about this one because I don’t ride roller coasters anyway. Been there a bunch of times, just never rode it, never wanted to.

4) Participate in a drive-by: Neither as a victim nor a perp. Actually, I’ve never felt unsafe in Brooklyn, in any neighborhood.

5) Governor’s Island: There was always something happening there in the Summer, I just never got around taking the short ferry ride.

To tell you the truth, this list was actually really difficult to put together, it was nice to realize we actually have done pretty much everything we ever wanted to do here. Brooklyn is amazing, though I’ll leave all the sentimental stuff for another post.

I’m wondering what the recent election in AZ says about the political power of the LDS Church. As a political liberal, its good news to hear that AZ Mormon Republicans have bucked the party line in favor of what I believe are more reasonable and compassionate solutions to immigration. BUT, I don’t believe its a coincidence that the AZ Mormon shift was preceded by recent legislation in Utah (heavily influenced by the LDS church). (more…)

As I thought about the conference talk I particularly wanted to write about this week I was attracted to several. There was no obvious one, as there sometimes is, that through controversy or exceptional spiritual power jumped out as the one I needed to focus on.

I often enjoy President Uchtdorf’s talks most and, like many of our female members, I am an unapologetic fan, not because of his looks (though I can’t help appreciating his hair) but because he always seems to speak about subjects I love in ways I find almost poetic. For example, in this conference I loved both his talks, identifying profoundly with his image of finding God in the night sky as he piloted planes across dark oceans and continents.

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